Old memories

I was brought up in Mansfield. The main market was a big feature, so I was pleased when I cam across this black and white sketch, dated 1971, and had it framed. It is from the viewpoint of the balcony outside the town hall, looking down on the merry-go-round. Tucked in the corner of it I have a coloured postcard, date unknown, but not very different from the sketch judging by the clothes and van. This time the photo is from the opposite side of the market. In the middle of the market square is the crumbling Bentinck Memorial, a Gothic eyesore, which probably prevented the market being enclosed. The stalls were packed very close together, and it was usually crowded of a Saturday. I made my first shirtwaister dress, shades of blue with large tipsy white squares, from one of the material stalls (ca. 1963?). Mum's favourite stall was the seconds from the hosiery factories. Dad like the fish stall, with expensive crab's claws, which took so long to prepare and irritated the dermatitis on his hands, but he thought worth it "it's a taste". Fruit and veg were dominated by a double length stall run by the Troop family. I was at school with one of the boys, who went to work on it later on. They were known as the market "leaders" for price setting (i.e. the other stall holders took their cue from them), and must have made a fortune. The front of the stall was always fresh-looking and inviting, with pyramids of items. Of course, they always served from the back! I just did a quick Google and am impressed to see they are still going strong as a business, now the fifth generation of them.

Another hat or two

Remains of the remains! All Drops Flora (wool 65%, alpaca 35%).

Wobbly venture out

Did a shop at the local Co-op, first time since 23rd March. The shop was quiet, but I was still very nervous. Just recording it here for future reading. Tried braided necklaces/hairbands. Original pattern (not mine) goes back at least ten years They employ knitting's natural curl, which is a good point. On Knitmaster, 9 sts, hole in middle every 6 rows. Ends then drawn through the holes. As they stretch, fastening by button and loop is needed, so button can be moved up later. Now trying to calculate the length needed for a belt, over 13 sts which is a much firmer piece of work.

Some progress made

Nominally a Bank Holiday today, and should also be the first day of our May holiday in France. With Lockdown, this isn't happening. This is the Oddball Sweater, or as I prefer to call it, Bea's jumper, because it was Bea who first told me about it. I made Walnut'n'Wensleydale a few years ago (All the dyes from walnut leaves or husks). Cast on 80 sts or thereabouts, knit circularly, double increases every quarter, split after yoke. I am trying to use up all the remaining handspun, home dyed yarn in the attic, starting with reds at the top and progressing through the rainbow. Although no blues and purples left as they all sold. Some of the labels go back 17 years! Should be tried on around before the split to make sure is is deep enough. I put it onto threads about four inches after the split, and found it was long enough in front and back to start squaring off. With the poor indoor light, this looks awfully like the pink poncho of the previous post!

Pack a Poncho

Poncho finished after almost two years. After the neck shaping it was quite boring knitting! But it has removed another unfinished object from my pile. What shall I pick up next? The natural dyed top-down jumper, the crochet curtain, the smock? Oh, and there is still a log cabin mitt. I don't count the fourth diamonds blanket, or the CSM handwarmrs. And I did just spot this morning a bagful of an intended wool/silk hand spun jumper, of which there are various lumps in different stages of unspun,spun, undyed, dyed....

Don't mock my smocking!

About five years ago I bought some fine silver greylinen in Brixton of all places, intending to make a full smock. Three years ago I actually cut it out. All instructions say to do the embroidery of the side panels first. I don't enjoy embroidery, especially when I have to draw the pattern first. It's got circles to represent my spinning wheel and circular sock machine. I chose linen thread which is a pest to work with, not a bit flexible. The smock is back/front reversible, but I gave up after only doing part of the front - the back can stay plain, unless I do some machine embroidery on it, which is probably sacrilege, although I full intend to sew the seams by machine anyway I got the smoking dots - worked okay on the back piece BUT didn't like a second pressing on the front on an old dippy ironing board and half the dots aren't there. Also, I seem to have done them on the front side of the work. Put it aside with yet another sigh. Today got a board, covered it with cloth, used a brand new piece of dot paper and pressed onto the wrong side. Sewing lines in one dot, out the next and only every other line as they all seem so close together. Have done five lines. Only another 31 to go... Also to day my have bought a 60 slot 3D printed circular sock machine from Scotland. Delivery in three months. Watch this space.

Lockdown hat

This hat did not work out as varied in the sections as I was hoping, as you can;t see them all at once - neither could it be called Peruvian in shape! Back to the drawing board. As we are now in the fourth week of virus Lockdown, I thought I would record for posterity a short diary of a typical day, same as yesterday, and no doubt the same as tomorrow, although if it rains won't be going in the garden. Try to stay in bed until 8amUp, wash,breakfast, bit of housework, check emails, Facebook, Ravely and News 10am to Knitting Room work on either or both machines 11am out in garden 12noon check Keith is up, prepare lunch plus a glass of wine 1pm nod off for a bit 2pm come round, try out a hand knit pattern, watching Father Brown on tv 4pm tea and a biscuit4:30 water plants in pots and garden where seeds planted 5pm, read, Suduko, more knitting 6pm prepare dinner 7pm Check computer again, more reading, tv, knitting10pm bed